Chuck Says "Spring is Coming"

Several hundred people, including Gothamist, gathered at the Staten Island Zoo early this morning to hear a well-fed rodent's forecast for the remainder of the winter. After the Tottenville High School chorus entertained the crowd local dignitaries and elected officials were introduced. Then, the moment everyone was waiting for. A Brownie troop member was enlisted to coax Staten Island Chuck out of his house with the aid of a few peanuts.

To chants of "Chuck Chuck Chuck" the pudgy prognosicator gathered his thoughts and spoke to City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. Speaker Quinn, having brushed up on her groundhogese all week relayed the news to the crowd. Chuck did not see his shadow. Spring is on the way!

More and a video of Chuck's prediction after the jump...

Chuck's handler Doug Schwartz mentioned that Chuck and his predecessors, all coincidentally named Chuck, have been correct in 23 of his last 27 predictions. He may be right, as we can expect highs in the 40s and 50s for the next week.


Groundhog Day 2008 with Staten Island Chuck from jenchung on Vimeo

The gauntlet was thrown down later when word was received that Chuck's rival rodent, Punxsutawny Phil, whose prognostications have a measly 37% success rate, did see his shadow in Pennsylvania. The Woodchuck Challenge is on!

Chuck, formally known as Charles G. Hogg, VII, was also asked to predict the outcome of the Super Bowl. Although he typically sleeps through much of the football season, Chuck foresaw a glorious Giants victory against the Patriots.

Email This Entry


Comments (10) [rss]

Watch Chuck be wrong, just like every other year.

So all thats needed are a few peanuts and you sell out huh Chuck? Your such a whore.

Chuck could've followed this feller's example instead of sellin' out. Groundhog Pride!

why the fuck is staten island chuck?

the only groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil

Warning:
The line RevWaldo posted is to a LOLcats site.
You have been warned!

The groundhog determining winter or spring is such a joke. This shouldn't even be news anymore.

fuck chuck! 40 degree weather is the best. I'm lovin it.

user-pic

Let's not forget Gen. Beauregard Lee in Georgia. Dumb animals. Speaking of the humans, of course.

This is embarrassing. As if it's not bad enough that Staten Island is already considered the forgotten borough of the most recognized city in the world... SI has to familiarize itself with Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Uggh.

With global warming signs all over the place do we really need a groundhog to tell us spring is coming soon?!!

I think Fuck Chuck belongs on a t-shirt. Just keep that in mind for the next Groundhog Day. BIG MONEY BIG MONEY BIG MONEY!

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

too bad gothamist is the only site on the www to view while at work I love the ads - it pays for wh
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us